Apparatus for treating fabrics



FLTT AL APFARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS ATTORNE g a Z )E .iLi

Patented Nov. 24, 193i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT PLATT, 0F CUMBERLANI), MARYLAND, AND NATHANIEL C. SHANE, JR., OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO CELANESE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS Application led August 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,504.

This invention relates to a recess of and apparatus for subjecting a fabric to a bath either for boiling off or dyeing natural silk, or fory dyeing or delustring artificial silk composed either of reconstituted cellulose or of cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate or for treating or dyeing fabrics of other fibres or mixtures thereof.

An object of our invention is to provide a process of and apparatus for suspendig the above mentioned fabric in a modifying bath as above stated in such a manner as to avoid string-marking caused by the strain due to suspension of the fabric by strings. Other objects of our invention will appear from the following detailed description.

It is a common practice to boil off natural silk fabrics by the use of the method known as Stringing. ln this process the fabric to be treated is plaited or folded and strings are affixed to one selvedge of the fabric. The fabric is then suspended on sticks by means of the strings attached to the selvedge, so that it hangs in a plaited or folded condition, in a large rectangular tub containing the treating bath. This mode of treatment puts a strain upon the fabric Where the string is attached to the selvedge due to the weight of the fabric being supported, which weight is being carried by the points of support. The defect caused by this strain-is commonly known as .stringmarking. This strino' marking is not noticeable with all fabrics, but certain fabrics, such as sheer natural erpe-de-Chine and cellulose acetate fabrics, particularly where delustring is required, are very subject to this objectionable phenomenon.

'We have found that'in treating any rios which are liable to string mark this defect can be avoided by the use of a clip or clamp to suspend the fabric, thus distributing all the weight of the fabric over a sub stantial portion of the selvedge instead of at one point.

Referring to the accompanying drawing- Fig. is a plan view of the treating bath showing the fabrics suspended, the distances between the folds being exaggerated for clarity.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along line 2 2 Fig. 7 is an end View of still another forni l" of clip having ric.

Referring more particularly to Figures l and 2, the numeral 1 represents the tub here shown as rectangular. for containing the treating.r bath. The fabric 2 to be treated is folded or plaited along the fold 3 and is supported by the clips or clamps 4 along one selvedge, which in turn suspend from the rods or sticks 5 which rigidly support the clips 4. Almost any type of clip or clamp could be used, the wider the clip the more efficient it is for this purpose. A clip 3 inches to 6 inches wide has been found satisfactory, this taking the Weight of the fabric over a 3 inch to 6 inch stretch of selvedge instead of at one point when a string is used. It has been found satisfactory to use three clips across the fold of the fabric', one at each end of the fold and one in the center. The number of folds put in each set of three clips may be varied in accordance with the type or quantity of the fabric to be treated. Each set of three clips are supported on a stick or rod so as to be held as rigidly as possible. Two, three or more clips may be used to a stick, just as two, three ormore strings are supported by `a` stick in the old process. We b ave found it desirable to have the clips fixed a baille for guiding the fab- 'firmly to the supporting sticks so as not to allow lateral motion.

Referring more particularly to lFigures 3 to 7 which showin detail the preferred forms of clips to be used in our invention, the refer- 'ence numeral 6 indicates the jaws of the clips,

the jaws of the clips apart and for suspending the same. In the form of clips. shown in Figures 3 to 6 the pins 9 are provided to guide the folds of the fabric into the clips, since difficulty was experienced in loading the folds of the fabric,into the ordinary form of the clip. We have found that such fabric can be loaded very readily when these pins are provided. Attention is called to the fact that the pins are so placed, that they do not support the fabric when the clip is closed but merely act as guides.

In the form of clip shown in Figures 3 and 4 the pins 9 project within the space between the jaws. In the form shown in Figures 5 and 6, the ends of the edges of one of the jaws are upturned asshown at l0 to provide space for the pin 9.

Referring to Figure 7, balile 10 is provided on onel jaw 6 of the clip to guide the fabric into the space between the jaws.

The apparatus described above may be used in the process of boiling off natural silk. It may be used for d cing fabrics such as natural silk crpeedehine and certain varieties of artificial silk, particularly those made of organic cellulose derivatives such as cellulose ethers and cellulose acetate.A It is particularly advantageous for delustring cellulose acetate fabrics. It is to be understood of course that the tub is filled with an appro priate liquid or solution necessary to carry out any of the above operations.

Having described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:-

LApparatus for treating 4fabric liable to string-marks comprising a vessel adapted to serve as a support, bars extending across said vessel and supported by it, means on said bars for suspending the fabric by a support for a substantial length of the fabric.

2. Apparatus for treating fabric liable to string-marks comprising a vessel adapted to serve as a support, bars extending across said vessel and supported by it, a clip or clamp of substantial length for suspending the fabric by supporting the fabric along a substantial portion of its length, and means across the bath for supporting said clip or clamp.

3. Apparatus for treating fabric liable to string-marks .comprising a vessel adapted to act as a support and means for suspending clamp of substantial length for supporting the fabric along a substantial portion of its length, and a bar across the vessel 'and supported by it for supporting said clip or clam'p.

I 4. Apparatus for treating fabric liable to stringmarks comprising a vessel adapted to act as a support and means for sus ending the fabric, said means comprising a ar supported by said vessel and a depending -clip or clam of substantial length, for supporting the abrio along substantial portions of its length, said clip or clamp having means on one of its jaws for aiding the positioning of the fabric into the same.

5. Apparatus for treating fabric liable to string-marks comprising a vessel ada ted to actas a support and means for sus en ing the fabric, said means comprising a ar supported by said vessel and a depending clip or clam' `of substantial length for supporting the flabric. along substantial portions of its length, said clip or clamp having pins on one of its jaws for aiding the positioning of the fabric into the same. v

6. A clip or clamv for fabrics, comprising a pair of smooth `aced gripping jaws for supporting the fabric, and means on one of sai jaws for aiding the positioning of the fabric between the aws, said jaws being adapted when close to receive the whole weight of the fabric independently of said positioning means.

7 A clip or clam for fabrics, comprising a pair of smooth aced gripping jaws for supporting the fabric, and 'a pin on one of sald jaws for aiding the positioning of the fabric between the jaws, said jaws bein adapted to relieve the said pin entirely o the weight of the fabric.

In testimony whereof, they have hereunto subscribed then-names.

.HERBERT PLATT.

NATHANIEL C. SHANE, JR.

the fabric, said means comprising a clip or 

